How To Make Charred Cauliflower With Toasted Bread Crumbs, Cornic

Get your cast-iron pan ready

Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig in Chicago sears cauliflower with just a touch of olive oil to achieve a deep char and bring out the vegetable's nutty flavors. To finish the simple side dish, he tosses the cauliflower with lemon juice, parsley, briny cornichons and a handful of toasted bread crumbs.

To learn more, read "Caul Me Maybe."

Recipe adapted from Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig, Chicago, IL

Charred Cauliflower With Toasted Bread Crumbs, Cornichons And Parsley
5 from 41 ratings
Learn to make Jimmy Bannos Jr.'s charred cauliflower with cornichons. 
Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
15
minutes
Servings
4
to 6 servings
Total time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
  • 2 cups torn rustic white bread
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 head white cauliflower or romanesco, cored and cut into ½-inch slices
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup sliced cornichons
  • ¼ cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Pulse the bread in a food processor until it's coarsely ground. On a sheet pan, toss the bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toast them in the oven, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and let cool.
  2. In a medium bowl, toss the cauliflower with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, then season it with salt and pepper. Note: Don't worry if some pieces are bigger than others.
  3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, sear the cauliflower until the florets are caramelized on both sides but not mushy, 6 to 8 minutes.
  4. In a clean bowl, toss the charred cauliflower with the lemon juice, remaining tablespoon of olive oil, cornichons and parsley. Transfer to a platter, top with ¼ cup of the toasted bread crumbs and serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 181
Total Fat 14.2 g
Saturated Fat 2.1 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Total Carbohydrates 11.8 g
Dietary Fiber 2.7 g
Total Sugars 2.7 g
Sodium 313.5 mg
Protein 3.3 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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